Sam Prendergast returns as prop loanee thrown straight in by Leinster

As forecast, loanee Ed Byrne has been thrown straight into the Leinster matchday 23 for their trip to face interprovincial rivals Ulster in Belfast.

RugbyPass flagged the move on Monday, before Leinster confirmed it on Tuesday, with Byrne is now named on the replacement bench to face Richie Murphy’s side.

Byrne returns from across the Irish sea from Cardiff and is set to play his first game for his home province in over two years, with Leinster desperately plugging the hole left by injuries to four of their looseheads.

Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast returns to the starting 23, having missed out completely during two weekends of Investec Champions Cup action.

Indeed, head coach Leo Cullen has named a strong side for the clash, with plenty of frontliners rolled out.

James Ryan will captain the side as he partners Brian Deeny in the second row, with Jerry Cahir, Rónan Kelleher and Thomas Clarkson named in the front row.

Scott Penny starts in a back row alongside Alex Soroka and James Culhane, while Luke McGrath lines up at scrum-half outside a midfield pairing of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose. Hugo Keenan is selected at full-back, with Joshua Kenny and Jimmy O’Brien on the wings.

Among the other replacements are Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Max Deegan and Will Connors, with Fintan Gunne and Ciarán Frawley completing a 6–2 split on the bench.

“It’s a massive game. Ulster are ahead of us on the table,” said Leinster assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal. “We’re going up looking for that performance that we haven’t quite nailed the last couple of weeks.”

Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Joshua Kenny, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Jerry Cahir, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, James Ryan (CAPT), Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, James Culhane

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Ed Byrne, Rabah Slimani, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley

Ulster: Jacob Stockdale, Werner Kok, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Zac Ward, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Angus Bell, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Sean Reffell, Juarno Augustus

Replacements: James McCormick, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite